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Sunday, 13 February 2011

Do you feel more powerful with polished nails? OK...neither do I but a few of you have asked me to do a mini nail polish blog. So I have done a quick BRAND review and SNAPSHOT view after one application of a very random selection from my collection.

Quick BRAND review

Nails Inc - I am impressed with Nails Inc as a whole - their brushes allow the application to be really smooth. The polish consistency is perfectly balanced avoiding splodges, streaks and clumps, which I often fail to do, with other brands. I love the names (jermyn street, montrose palace) which gives them an edge to buying more than just a nail polish. Definitely on the higher end of the pricing scale but I've picked all my collection up, in sales and online.

Barry M - right up my street. There are loads of colours (including the LOUD mint green to softer pastel colorus). I am never disappointed with their collection and love the gold caps! Reasonably priced and always on offer.

Boots No 7 - so far disappointed. The colours always look wonderful but need more than one application to come close to what the bottle shows. I also think the polish consistency is imperfect causing streaks, lumps and just general mess around nail! I'm usually impressed with their make up collection so I have hope this is their own work in progress.

Naturals Collection - fantastic little buys for the price and a bonus they are fair trade compliant. The polish consistencies aren't perfect (can be a bit cloggy) but will do and last fairly long before drying out. They offer a wide variety of colours including some colours that I haven't seen with other ranges.

SNAPSHOTS- ONE APPLICATION

1) Nails Inc - Drury Lane(Coral)

This is a beautiful colour and looks really pretty as a set. It certainly sets a spring/summer mood regardless of the weather.

2) Barry M Nail Paint - Pink, Limited Edition 030

I am wearing this right now!. It's possibly one of my favourites at the moment as it's not too loud (for the office) but still adds a bit of colour to an outfit and my day!

3) Revlon Deep Pink

A classic colour and definitely a great brand. Application is perfect.

4) Marks and Spencer, Dusty Apricot

Not a big fan of the application as it can be a bit streaky but

I love the subtle colour and this definitely gets a prize for

having the best name 'dusty apricot' - tick!

5) Barry M - Mint Green 006 We all have vices and this is mine.Yes it's loud but it's so refreshing...I definitely get looks/shocks of horror when I wear this but my nails my colours!

Sunday, 6 February 2011

Following on from a previous Rituals blog (click here to read it), I have received a variety of Rituals products to review. In order to diversify the content of this review, I have requisitioned the assistance of 2 reliable friends who have no link to the beauty blogging world, which is why I am keen to tap into their thoughts and views and compare them with mine.

Recently bought Bobbi Brown long gel eyeliner which I absolutely love - so gel. but prior to that it was the liquid eyeliner on top but if i used it on the lower lid, i would use the pen/crayon. The YSL pen is one of the best in terms of applying but just wish it was darker.

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?

Haha many times. Stingggg!

What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?

I have never used them.

Do you use mineral makeup?

Over Colorstay I will use a true match minerals by L'Oreal which is perfect.

What is your favorite lipstick?

No 7 Nude - amazing. I am still on the look out though.

How about lipgloss?

Body Shop Coconut Lip Butter is amazing on its own or applied over lipstick (see here for a post on this).

What is your favorite blush to use?

NARS Angelika 407 and Benefit Sugarbomb

Do you buy your makeup on ebay?

I have bought a couple of things from ebay but prefer getting them in shops.

Do you like drugstore makeup?

I tend to shop in places like Boots and John Lewis rather than in pharmacists ;-)

Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)

No but I am going to one next weekened near to me.

Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?

I have subscribed to a night of it with a friend who owns a salon.

Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

Depends what mood I'm in - I am happy to go out without make up on if my face needs a break.

Name a makeup crime that you hate?

Badly applied foundation - not rubbed in properly - not blended on the side of the face, or the neck. Lipstick on teeth. Sloppy fake tan. Chipped nail polish. People who put make up on over make up.

Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?

Colour and creativity make the world go around

Which celebrity always has great make up?

Kim Khardasian - classic.

If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would you use?

gel eyeliner, although I'm still in the 'i love you period'

Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?

Yes. I do a lot on the weekends. As long as I'm showered and my teeth are brushed I feel good about myself.

Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?

Beauty is all about the skin but make up gives me a slight boost of confidence.

In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?

Benefit have never let me down. Constantly impressed by them particular Sugarbomb blusher, Benetint and Beneglow.

Saturday, 5 February 2011

I love everything about mascara - the packaging, the exxagerated advertising, the innovatively designed brushes, the smell of the mascara and that first application where I hopefully think, yes...this is the one!

But then I get sceptical- do my eyelashes ACTUALLY look longer, more voluminous and really stand out? is the quirky design of the brush actually doing anything? has it dried out already? or I am the victim of my own consumerism?

In the search for my perfect mascara, I thought I'd share with you a selection of those I have tried...

Well this is number 1 for reasons other than for it's price at £21.50! I discovered this back in University from a glamorous blonde friend, Zoe, who always had beautiful thick and long eyelashes. It's definitely been brought into my make up collection several times since. Oh the packaging is stubbornly the best out there. A golden tube with the YSL insignia engraved upon. The wand is thick and the brush comes out slowly soaking up as much of the lotion of 'seduction' as it can. In terms of the brush style, YSL are one of the few brands who have not digressed to different shapes, sizes and angles. Their brush style is classic - thick and straight.

The first few applications are wonderful - slink, soft eyelashes that are lengthy and have the wow factor. But after a couple of weeks any more than one application, my eyelashes begin to look clogged and stiff. The dreaded spider look entails and there is very little I can do to separate them. Where has the effet faux look gone? The brush and mascara itself feel dry. The inner leaflet suggests washing the brush to reignite the mascara but this then makes it a lot more clumpy and never has that silk style. I always get disappointed with YSL as it has such potential but sadly disappoints too early which is unacceptable for being on the highest end of the price scale.

2) No 7 Exceptional DefinitionI have been impressed by Boot's No 7 range in particular and used one of their vouchers to get my hands on their No 7 Exceptional Definition.

I was interested by this one in particular because of the triple functional brush:-

one side as the normal mascara brush

another side to remove any clumps

and the tip for the corners of the eye

Overall this was a great mascara - the design of the brush is very clever and worked perfectly without involving too much hassle. Each part had a noticeable effect. I also found by twisting the brush whilst applying, it gave my lashes a boosted curl, which is a definite thumbs up. My only gripe with this is that despite a number of application, the volume is just not enough and the lashes still felt thin and failed to satisfy my search for the wow factor. I know Boots have a range of No 7 mascaras which I need to now explore.

3) Rimmel 1 2 3

This was a random and quick purchase but I liked the idea of there being 3 types of effect.

turn up to 1 - 3 times more volume

turn up to 2 - 5 times more volume

turn up to 3 - 10 times more volume

Although there is clearly volume, there really is just nothing else to it. It comes out like glue and cloggy and goes on exactly like that, prone to smudging and just generally difficult to tame. This is a definite let down.

Wednesday, 2 February 2011

I love reading other people's blogs as to what is in their bag and their favourite items so here are mine (in order of priority).

1) Phone and cute cover

I love my blackberry and would be lost without it. I've recently got this funky cover for it too which although looks of a material texture it's hard plastic which keeps the phone well-protected.

2) Purse I was given this as a Christmas present a few years ago and have absolutely loved Radley purses and bags ever since. The leather is so soft and it is a classic piece that I will keep forever. I really want to add to my radley collection (hint hint).

3) Umberella I've put this on the list because I have only just bought it and know that it will be put to good use in the UK. I like the pink polka dot style and it reminds me of some the radley ones even though this is a bargain for £4.50 from tesco!

4) Notepad

I always carry a pencil and notepad so I can jot anything that comes up during my day, which is totally non-work related. I bought a load of these beautiful mini leather bound notebooks from a market in Delhi for about 80p each. I love their feel and anything that brings me back to roaming the streetsof Delhi shopping puts me in the right mood for my doodles and scribbles.

5) Bodyshop Lip Butter

I absolutely love this bodyshop lip butter and go through it very quickly.

It's soft creamy and smells of wonderful coconuts. I love the nude effect look it holds by itself and it can add a slinky gloss to any lipstick...without my hair sticking to my lips. Wonderful!

So those are my top 5 items and of course, my Mischa Barton bag I am using at the moment, which my lovely sister bought me for Christmas! I'm still not sick of it, which shows how much I love it!